The late Professor Livingstone Luboobi
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Wherever he went, he made sure that he left a trail. His candle burnt bright until his very last moment. Those were some of the words spoken to eulogise Professor Livingstone Luboobi, the former Vice Chancellor, Makerere University.
Luboobi, a distinguished professor of biomathematics who led the university between 2004 and 2009, died on Wednesday July 16th 2025 at the age of 81 of an undisclosed sickness.
In a post shared on X, the current university Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, hailed his contributions to academia and leadership at the university.
He said he received with deep sadness the news of the passing of a distinguished Professor of Mathematics, Professor Luboobi.
“During his tenure of leadership at this university, he guided the university through a critical period of transformation and growth,” he said, adding that his contributions to academia and leadership at Makerere will be remembered with great respect and admiration.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he concluded, without giving details about the vigil and burial arrangements.
When Habari Daily sought out his profile on the Makerere University website, Professor Livingstone Luboobi held a PhD in Applied Mathematics (Biomathematics) from the University of Adelaide, Australia (1978–1980), an MSc in Applied Mathematics (Operations Research) from the University of Toronto, Canada (1971–1972) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics (First Class Honours) from Makerere University.
He also trained at the University of California, Berkeley, as a Fulbright Scholar, and served as a researcher and visitor at the University of Bergen.
He was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1944, in Kalisizo, Rakai District, to Lameka Serwadda and Sanyu Nalubega, both peasants of Mitondo village. He is survived by a wife and children.
Leadership role at MUK
During his term as Vice Chancellor, Prof Luboobi guided the universitythrough a critical period of transformation and growth.
His contributions to academia and leadershipat Makerere will be remembered with great respect and adimiration,” said Prof Nawangwe.
Luboobi, who replaced Prof John Ssebuwufu in 2004, started working at Makerere University as a Special Assistant in 1970. But had already served as a tutorial assistant in his third year of undergraduate studies.
He was promoted to the rank of Lecturer in 1973, Senior Lecturer in 1977, Associate Professor in 1985, and full Professor in 1997.
Lubbobi taught courses at both undergraduate and graduate level, and supervised students and research at MSc and PhD levels.
Lifetime achievements
Among many other things, Luboobi takes credit for successfully chairing the taskforce that drafted the university’s development plans.
In 1990/91, when he was the head of the mathematics department, the then Vice Chancellor, Prof Senteza Kajubi, gave him the mantle to steer the task force that drafted the first locally formulated Strategic Plan of Makerere.
During his time as Vice Chancellor, collaborations were established with international universities and organisations in various areas, and mechanisms were introduced to mobilise resources to supplement funding, including investments and alumni engagement.
Professor Luboobi is also credited as a founding member of the Makerere University Private Sector Forum.
Accolades
Luboobi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bergen, Norway, in 2008, in recognition of his significant contribution to the internationalisation of the University of Bergen.
On June 29, 2013, Luboobi was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Makerere University, in recognition of his many accomplishments in academia and leadership as an alumnus of the University of East Africa.
He previously lectured at the University of Toronto and the University of Dar es Salaam.
Luboobi also served as Dean of the Faculty of Science for two terms (1994–2001) and Head of the Department of Mathematics (1990–1991) at Makerere University.
